Authorities search for wanted man, runaway teen in Carteret area

Authorities are searching for an Ayden man who may be in the Carteret County area in the company of a 14-year-old girl he has with him unlawfully.

JANNETTE PIPPIN - Daily News Staff

EMERALD ISLE — Authorities are searching for an Ayden man who may be in the Carteret County area in the company of a 14-year-old girl he has with him unlawfully.

Jerry S. Coburn, 49, is wanted by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a runaway juvenile; and investigators were working Friday to determine if the pair had been in Emerald Isle.

Vance County Lt. J.R. Ferguson said they believe the two are together and used a stolen vehicle from Vance County to get away and may still be in the coastal area. The stolen vehicle may be one found Thursday night in Emerald Isle, potentially putting Coburn and the juvenile in the area.

Emerald Isle Police Chief Bill Hargett confirmed Friday morning that a stolen vehicle from Vance County was located in town, but he said they did not have any confirmation that Coburn had been there.

“There’s nothing at this time that can prove that he was here in Emerald Isle,” Hargett said.

But he stressed that an investigation is ongoing and the stolen vehicle was found in the course of investigating a break-in at a residence.

Hargett said Coburn is a person of interest they’d like to talk to if found.

Vance County authorities said Coburn had not been located as of Friday evening.

Lt. Ferguson said Coburn is wanted on Vance County charges of felonious constraint and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with an alleged October incident involving the same juvenile.

The 14-year-old runaway, Shelby Kelly, who previously lived in Ayden and currently resides in Henderson, has been gone this time since Nov. 26.

Ferguson said Coburn is not her parent or legal guardian.

Coburn is a white male described as about 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Kelly is a white female about 5-feet, 1-inch tall with brown hair and blue eyes. She weighs about 110 pounds.

Photographs to the pair were not immediately available.

Anyone who has information about their whereabouts should contact local authorities.